Believe Housing’s grants top £1 million, aiding 700+ local projects in County Durham, tackling cost of living and Covid impacts.
These plans tackle social problems. They address the cost of living and Covid’s impact. Louise Taylor works at Believe Housing. She said they faced financial issues, but they still give grants to communities.
Reaching £1 million is a proud moment. The grants help small projects and big ones. They learned the community needs over time. They help groups give vital local services.
Howden-le-Wear Village Friends got the millionth pound. This group aids isolated elderly people in Howden-le-Wear and Crook. They got £6,893 for two groups.
It funds a men’s supper club and a women’s group. The women’s group supports those who are grieving. Taylor, Edmunds, and Mason visited the group and celebrated the funding milestone.
Rachel Edmunds manages social responsibility. She said they launched new projects and helped keep valued services running. This includes youth clubs and mental health help.
In 2023-24, they gave £268,397. That helped secure £118,124 in matching funds. The social value of projects exceeded £5 million. Visiting groups shows the real impact.
Jackie Gent helps run the Howden-le-Wear group. She shared how the group has grown and members give them lovely feedback too. The Believe Housing money was vital.
The funding let them create new activities. These support their two new community ventures. The group thanked Believe Housing for the support. They said that the initiatives would not have been possible without the funding.
Their funding adapted over time. It now addresses different social issues, including Covid inequalities and the cost of living. It also marked the Queen’s Jubilee.